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Tumultuous times like the coming cataclysms are great equalizers. Where in stable times the strong and/or clever take from the weak and/or befuddled and nice guys seem to finish last, during turmoil the playing field is flattened. The wealthy and influential, in spite of having forewarning about the coming pole shift and the means to arrange for their safety and comfort, will be no better off than the rest of humanity. Human nature tends to blunt the full reality of what will occur and what life will be like afterwards. The short term is considered, with the depressing long term scenario avoided. Thus food and water are stocked and batteries aplenty, but the wealthy do not consider what to do after these supplies run out. They have all their life relied upon the services of others, and comfort themselves with some vague notion that civilization and its administrators will right itself shortly afterwards and they will be able to return to shopping. What in fact occurs in these situations is a false sense of security preventing a more appropriate preparation or response.
The impoverished individual may find himself without goods or services, but as this is his status quo under normal circumstances will mobilize himself more effectively during the Aftertime. He will grieve less and ponder his options more, and take risks where the wealthy sit on the remnants of their toys until death overtakes them. In like manner, those who are physically or mentally handicapped may have an advantage over those who are whole in the Aftertime. They have already adjusted to being diminished and looked down upon. The palsied individual will find himself comforting those who have newly lost an eye or a hand, and the chronically mentally ill may find themselves counseling those who have gone mad from the turmoil and sense of loss. Survival is to a great extent based on the ability to adapt, and in this way those on the bottom today have an advantage over those on the top. The coming pole shift will be a great equalizer.